Meet the Golden Griffins… A team trying to work their way back up to the top of the MAAC
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Canisius
Mascot: Goldfinger’s Heraldry | School Location: Buffalo, NY | Conference: MAAC
2025 Record: 0-3 (0-0, T-1st) | 2024 RPI Rank: 298
2024 Record: 18-30 (11-13, 5th) | 2024 RPI Rank: 254
2023 Record: 26-25-1 (16-8, T-2nd) | 2023 RPI Rank: 180
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park (Raleigh, NC)
Game Time(s): Fri, Feb 28 @ 3:00pm | Sat, Mar 1 @ 2:00pm | Sun, Mar 2 @ 1:00pm
TV: Friday (ACCNX), Saturday (ACCNX), Sunday (ACCNX)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3)
Tell me about this team
Well, not really a whole heck of a lot to learn so far. Canisius didn’t schedule any games on the opening weekend of the series, and has only played three games, getting swept last weekend at James Madison. The Golden Griffins were competitive in that series, trailing by a single run entering the bottom of the 5th inning in all three games.
Unfortunately for them, they had a similar problem that the Wolfpack has been facing of late: not being able to push runs across. Their losses came by scores of 5-2, 6-1, and 5-2. In the series finale with JMU, Canisius actually outhit the Dukes 10-to-4.
Defense was also an issue in the Golden Griffins’ series with JMU, committing 6 errors across the weekend. While those errors resulted in only a pair of unearned runs, it’s a concerning issue for Canisius going forward since five different players contributed to the error total.
Pitching, however, was fairly strong – especially the starting pitching. While Canisius hurlers only tallied 18 strikeouts over three games (issuing 16 walks is concerning, though), allowing 16 runs over that span (5.3 runs/game) is pretty solid, especially considering Canisius allowed 7.0 runs/game in 2024.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Dominic Fritton (JR) — RHP Patyon Consigli (SR)
Saturday: RHP Heath Andrews (SO) — LHP Felix Morin (JR)
Sunday: LHP Ryan Marohn (SO) — RHP Aaron Duffy (SR)
Key Players:
Offense
2B/3B Trent Rumley (SR) – (2024) .270/.371/.402, 12 2B, 3 HR, 10.3 BB%, 11.3 K%, 9-12 SB. In the opening weekend series hit .364/.455/.872, 1 2B, 0 HR, 8.3 BB%, 16.7 K%. The 5’7 righty is the cleanup hitter for the Golden Griffins.
C Tommy Sheridan (JR) – (2024) .314/.359/.535, 10 2B, 3 HR, 2.2 BB%, 30.4 K%, 1-3 SB. Didn’t play in the opening weekend; not sure if he’s hurt or something else. Was the most productive Canisius hitter from last year (minus that BB:K ratio), so hard to imagine he wouldn’t be in the lineup if healthy.
DH/INF/OF Bennett Cox (FR) – .417/.462/.667, 3 2B, 0 HR, 0.0 BB%, 7.7 K%, 2-2 SB. Had about as good of an opening weekend as you could hope for while DHing and batting leadoff all three games. Earned MAAC Rookie-of-the-Week honors for his effort. Solid contact skills and good speed.
SS JC Spinosa (SO) – (2024) .256/.375/.360, 5 2B, 2 HR, 13.0 BB%, 16.9 K%, 3-8 SB. Last weekend hit .333/.333/.667, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 0.0 BB%, 22.2 K%, 0-0 SB. Hits in the 3-hole for Canisius. Solid fielder who made just 6 errors and posted a .958 fielding percentage last year.
Pitching
RHP Patyon Consigli (SR) – (2024) 2-7, 4.98 ERA, 68.2 IP, 9.2 BB%, 22.5 K%. Struck out 7 Dukes hitters last weekend over 4.1 innings, allowing 3 runs (all earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks. The staff ace played for the Wilmington Sharks in the summer of 2022 where he was a teammate for former Pack9 pitcher John Miralia.
LHP Felix Morin (JR) – (2024) 4-3, 5.60 ERA, 62.2 IP, 6.8 BB%, 18.3 K%. Put together a solid start against JMU: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. The walks were a bit concerning, but that hasn’t really been an issue for him over his career, so I’d expect the control to come back quickly.
RHP Aaron Duffy (SR) – (2024) 1-3, 9.15 ERA, 20.2 IP, 16.8 BB%, 20.8 K%. Went 4.0 innings against JMU, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on just 2 hits. Did walk 2 and hit 3 while not recording a strikeout.
RHP Levi Abbott (SR) – (2024) 0-1, 19.29 ERA, 2.1 IP, 14.3 BB%, 4.8 K%. The Canadian has had control issues for his entire collegiate career, so seeing him go 2.0 innings without a walk, wild pitch, or hit batter was a positive sign for Canisius. He allowed 1 run (earned) on 2 hits while striking out 3 in his lone appearance last weekend.
RHP Austin Kutz (SO) – (2024) 0-0, 2.89 ERA, 9.1 IP, 11.9 BB%, 14.3 K%. Tossed 1.1 hitless, scoreless innings of relief last Saturday, striking out 1 batter.
Quick! Fun Facts!
Canisius owns the head-to-head lead in the series with NC State by a 2-1 advantage. The schools split a 2014 season-opening series and then Canisius won the last meeting in 2018.
The Golden Griffins roster contains eight players from Canada, which is to be expected from a school just over the border. What’s odd is they have one player (JR RHP Sam Staerker) from Panama City Beach, Florida, which is odd. He looks exactly like a dude from Florida, though.
Canisius has been to four Regionals over the last 11 postseasons. Current head coach Matt Mazurek has led them to two of those: 2018 and 2022. Their other two appearances were in 2013 and 2015 under Mike McRae.
Last year was the first losing conference record Canisius has posted under Matt Mazurek. The program went 81-45 in MAAC play under Mazurek from 2018-2023.
The Key To A Series Win For State
Get the bats going. It’s that simple.
Prediction
The Pack has the advantage in all areas here and should be able to take advantage of it, but Canisius won’t be a pushover.
Outcome: State sweeps